Store coupons give other coupons more buying power

Michelle Rubrecht/For Savannah Morning News Here are examples of store coupons available in stores through machines at checkouts, display racks and mail. Look in stores for additional coupons that can be combined with manufacturer coupons. Most stores will allow you to combine the two types of coupons for bigger savings. Look for the special coupons in racks near the doors of stores, near displays for weekly circulars and at customer service counters. Also, check store policies to make sure you get the most from your efforts.

While we always count on savings from newspaper and manufacturer coupons, we shouldn’t forget the power of store coupons.

Recently I snagged a Harvey’s store coupon for $1 off any My Essentials large dozen eggs, and the eggs were on sale for 99 cents this past Wednesday. With the coupon and the sale, the egg purchase was free.

Also available was a $1 off produce store coupon which allowed me to score six ears of corn for 99 cents. Store coupons alone offer valuable discounts, but you can often double their power by combining — or stacking — them with a manufacturer coupon. I’ve been able to find many great deals and free items by using both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on the same item.

Publix goes one step further by accepting store coupons from competitors. Publix allows you to combine a competitor coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on the same item. The competitors each store will accept varies by store location. I have compiled a list on my blog at savannahnow.com/share/blog-post/michelle-rubrecht/2012-01-09/publix-competitors.

Publix is a good place to keep in mind if you find a great store coupon and manufacturer coupon to be used together but the originating store will not allow you to combine the two.

These stores allow you to stack a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item:

• Publix

• Target

• CVS

• Walgreens

• Rite Aid

• Bi-Lo

• Harris Teeter

• Kmart

• Family Dollar

• Dollar General

• Piggly Wiggly

These stores do not allow you to stack a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on the same item:

• Kroger

• Food Lion

• Harvey’s

(Savvy tip: If the Publix location where you shop accepts these stores as a competitor, you will be able to take the store coupon there and combine it with a manufacturer’s coupon.)

Know the difference between a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon.

A store coupon will be labeled “store coupon,” “point of sale coupon,” or “retailer coupon.”

Manufacturer coupons have numbers typically starting with a 5 or a 9. Some manufacturers have switched to the GS1 Data Bar format. When this format is used the coupon typically starts with a 0.

A coupon labeled “Manufacturer’s” coupon but have another store’s logo on it are still a manufacturer coupon and may not be combined with another store coupon. Because they are a manufacturer coupon, they are usually accepted at any store that accepts manufacturer coupons even though it has another stores label. The coupon must have an address where the store can send it for reimbursement. Kroger is an exception to this — it will not accept a coupon with another store’s logo on it.

FINDING STORE COUPONS

Sign up for the store’s loyalty card anywhere you shop. Register it with your mailing address and email address.

Join the mobile rewards program by texting “Clubkey” to 467467 (standard text messaging rates will apply).

Scan your card at the green coupon machine at the front of the store. Most of the coupons usually have to be used that day and are point of sale coupons (store coupons). The machine may also print a few manufacturer coupons.

Pay attention to the Harvey’s Facebook page. The egg and produce coupons I used was there and may still be available. Go to www.facebook.com/#!/Harveys (Click on the photo of America’s Flag Fruit Pizza and follow the link, download the instructions and the coupons will print with them.)

Find store coupons in store ads. Although they’ll say “do not combine with any other coupon,” this refers to other Kmart store coupons — not manufacturer coupons. Just be sure to scan your manufacturer coupon before the store coupon.

Booklets can be found near the customer service desk. Quantities are limited, so when you see these you will want to snag them quickly.

Kroger will send you great store coupons in the mail. Be sure to register your store loyalty card, and you will receive booklets and specific coupons geared toward your shopping history. Sometimes these are for free products you’ve purchased before. Register at customer.kroger.com/Register/LoginInfo.aspx. If you are still not receiving the coupons, call customer service for help.

Piggly Wiggly has its own special store coupons called Green Bax. Green Bax are electronic credits that you redeem like coupons. Every time you swipe your Pig Card, you’ll get free Greenbax you can use for rewards like free gas and groceries, special offers from Greenbax Partner merchants, movie tickets and more.

Check the store circular for occasional coupons.

Savannah Direct Mail Coupons are mailed out directly to addresses and they come in a white envelope with coupons from other businesses. Typically there is a sheet with several $5 off $30 coupons. Each coupon must be used during a specific week.

Newspaper customers often receive sticky coupons on the front of the paper.

Target

Target has store coupons on its website at coupons.target.com. Not all of the coupons are store coupons so inspect them carefully.

Sign up for the Red Card and register your address; they will occasionally mail coupons. The Red Card also saves you 5 percent off your purchases.

Sign up for samples (when available) at samples.target.com/ and score coupons, too. Target has been offering a beauty bag on a regular basis; the bag comes full of samples and a booklet of Target coupons.

CVS

CVS has a magazine called Reinventing Beauty for 99 cents and has store coupons in it.

Scan your card at the little Red Magic Machine and it will print coupons for you. Continue to scan your card until you get the message telling you there are no more coupons.

It also offers coupons called Extra Care Bucks that print on your receipt.

Walgreens

Walgreens has a monthly booklet with store coupons in them. It is called the Instant Value Coupon Booklet (IVC) you find it by the store circulars.

They also have manufacturers coupons that you can earn by purchasing specified products. These are called Register Rewards.

They also have a Free Diabetes and You Magazine you can find at the pharmacy.

Rite Aid

Get Rite Aid store coupons by watching short video clips at riteaid.adperk.com.

Rite Aid also has its own store coupons that print at the register when you buy specified products. These print on your receipt at checkout and are called +UPS.

Check store ads for store coupons. These are often labeled “manufacturer’s coupon” but codes start with an RC and are truly Rite Aid store coupons, therefore they may be combined with a manufacturer coupon.

Publix will accept store coupons from competitors, and it allow you to combine the competitor coupon with a manufacturer coupon. (See individual store locations for a list of competitors it will accept).

Advantage Flyers: These flyers come out on a regular basis. There is a yellow one for grocery items and a green one for health and beauty items. Both list special sales not listed in the regular ad. They also have store coupons in them. (Ask for these at the customer service desk or check the information carousels near the doors).

Booklets are released on a regular basis, check at customer service for your copy.

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